General Awareness

DEFENCE - December 2018

Dec 2018

Oct 05, 2024

Bharat Electronics and Israel Aerospace Industries Form Joint Venture

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna defence PSU, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel's leading aerospace and defence company, established a joint venture (JV) named BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd. The JV, headquartered in Delhi, aims to serve as the single point of contact for long-term product support of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems utilized by India's defense forces. This partnership underscores the long-standing collaboration between BEL and IAI on various strategic programs, enhancing India's defence capabilities while aligning with the government's vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
The MRSAM, developed jointly by IAI and India's DRDO, is a cutting-edge air and missile defence system designed to counter diverse aerial threats. It is currently operational with the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Israeli defense forces. The system features advanced components such as an Advanced Phased Array Radar, mobile launchers, and interceptors equipped with sophisticated RF seekers.
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is a prominent Indian public sector undertaking specialising in aerospace and defence electronics. Established in 1954 in Bangalore, Karnataka, BEL focuses on manufacturing advanced electronic products for both ground and aerospace applications. The company operates under the Ministry of Defence of India and has been designated as a Navratna company, highlighting its significant status and operational autonomy within the public sector.

Oct 04, 2024

Military Nursing Service Celebrates its 99th Raising Day

The Military Nursing Service (MNS) marked its 99th Raising Day on Oct 1, 2024 with solemnity and pride. Maj Gen Ignatius Delos Flora, Addl Director General of Military Nursing Services laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, in the presence of senior MNS officers and veterans.
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Upendra Dwivedi in his message, commended the MNS Officers for their unwavering commitment to patient care, even in the most challenging conditions. He highlighted the significant role of MNS officers, as Pillar of strength of Armed Forces Medical Services.
The Military Nursing Service, established in 1926, has grown into a robust and indispensable part of the Indian Armed Forces. Over the past 99 years, it has evolved into a highly skilled and specialised cadre, committed to providing the best possible medical care to Indian soldiers and their families. The Military Nursing Service continues to uphold its mission of "Service before Self," and the motto 'Service with Smile' that resonates deeply with every MNS officer in the service.

Taiwan Receives First Shipment of Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile Systems

The first shipment of 100 land-based Harpoon anti-ship missile systems ordered from the United States reportedly arrived in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, marking a significant milestone in the island's defense capabilities. The equipment was unloaded at Kaohsiung Port.
This is part of a 71.02 billion new Taiwan dollar ($2.22 billion) deal in 2020 for the US to supply the island with up to 100 shore-mounted Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and related equipment.
Taiwan's defense ministry also allotted an additional 15 billion new Taiwan dollars ($469 million) to construct related facilities, bringing the total package to $86.02 billion new Taiwan dollars ($2.69 billion).
In 2023, it was reported that Taiwan and US officials had discussed focusing on expediting the arms shipment timeline, aiming to secure more than half of the Harpoon missiles within three years and the remainder by the end of 2029.

Oct 03, 2024

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin Becomes First Woman to Take over as DG, Armed Forces Medical Serv...

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin became the first woman officer to take over as the Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). The DGAFMS is directly responsible to the Ministry of Defence for overall medical policy matters which relate to the Armed Forces.
Prior to assuming the appointment of 46th DGAFMS, the Flag Officer held the coveted appointments of DG Medical Services (Navy), DG Medical Services (Air) and Director & Commandant of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. She is an alumna of AFMC, Pune and was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985. She is an MD in Radiodiagnosis from AFMC, Pune and Diplomate National Board in Radiation Oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, complemented with training in Gamma Knife Surgery from University of Pittsburgh.
In a career spanning 38 years, the Flag Officer has held prestigious academic and administrative appointments including Professor & Head, Radiation Oncology, Army Hospital (R&R) and Command Hospital (Southern Command)/AFMC Pune, Commanding Officer, INHS Asvini, Command Medical Officer in the Indian Navy's Southern and Western Naval Commands.

Oct 02, 2024

IIT Kanpur Unveils India's First Detonation Tube Research Facility

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) unveiled a Detonation Tube Research Facility (DTRF) in the Combustion and Propulsion Laboratory of the institute. Funded by the Aeronautics Research and Development Board, DRDO, and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), this is the first facility of its kind in India and among only a few globally.
Developed by Prof. Ajay Vikram Singh and his research group from the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur, the facility successfully demonstrated the propagation of a detonation wave in a laboratory setting for the first time in India, accomplishing this feat in a record time of two years. Research conducted at the DTRF will help prevent mining, industrial, and home accidents; predict the path of wildfires; increase the efficiency of high-speed detonation-based engines; strengthen safety protocols in oil, gas, and pharmaceutical industries; and even enhance our understanding of supernovas.
Detonations are one of the most powerful phenomena in nature, where an enormous amount of energy is released almost instantaneously, propagated at a speed faster than the speed of sound, with typical velocities reaching ~2000-3000 m/s, making it highly difficult to achieve and control, especially in laboratory settings.

Army Signs 8th Procurement Contract through iDEX

In line with the commitment towards the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, the Army signed the eighth procurement contract through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) platform. The aim of iDEX is to create an ecosystem to foster innovations and encourage technological development in defence and aerospace by engaging research and development institutes, academia, and industries and providing them funding and other support to carry out R&D which has good potential for future adoption by Indian defence and aerospace organisation.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 12, 2018, during the Defence Expo India, iDEX under the Defence Innovation Organisation has emerged as a front-runner in establishing the right kind of contact with start-ups and innovators and has gained substantial traction in the defence start-up community.

Oct 01, 2024

India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise Begins in Uttarakhand

A joint exercise between the militaries of India and Kazakhstan seeking to enhance military capability of both sides to undertake counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional scenario under the norms of the UN Charter got underway.
The 8th edition of 'Exercise KAZIND' commenced at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli in Uttarakhand.
The exercise, which has been held annually since 2016, will conclude on October 13. Last edition of this exercise was held at Otar, Kazakhstan from October 30 to November 11.
The Indian armed forces, comprising 120 personnel, are being represented by a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army, along with other arms and services, as well as personnel from the Indian Air Force.
The Kazakhstan contingent is being represented mainly by personnel from Land Forces and Air Borne Assault Troopers.

IPS Nalin Prabhat Takes Charge as DGP of J&K

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appointed IPS Nalin Prabhat as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir. He assumed charge from October 1.
Prabhat is a 1992-batch Indian Police Service officer and has served as the NSG DG since April 2024.
He has had a distinguished career marked by multiple accolades (including three Police Gallantry Medals and the Parakram Padak).
He has an extensive background in counter-insurgency operations and previously led the Greyhounds, a highly specialised anti-Naxal unit in Andhra Pradesh.

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